TOPEKA, Kan. – Cornell's baseball team claimed its first two wins of the season, both in thrilling extra-inning fashion Saturday at Bettis Family Sport Complex.
 
Senior Drew Logel's home run in the top of the 10th inning propelled the Rams to an 8-7 victory over UW-Platteville in the opener. Seth Beals completed the dramatic sweep with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th for an 8-7 win over Luther.
 
The Rams (2-1), who accounted for 26 total hits on the day, ride momentum into Sunday's 2 p.m. rematch with Luther (2-3) to conclude the opening four-game swing in Kansas.  
 
Logel powered the Rams past UW-Platteville (0-1) with a go-ahead solo homer with one out in the 10th. His second hit of the game answered the Pioneers' two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth that tied it at 7-7.
 
Junior newcomer Patrick Montagna came on to save the game, working a scoreless bottom of the 10th. He stranded the tying run on third base, handing Robbie Dombrowski his first win as Cornell's coach.  
 
Vince Zipperer went 3-for-4 to lead Cornell's 14-hit attack. Beals singled, tripled and scored two runs. James Kent had a double and also scored twice.
 
Reliever Carter Kriegel (1-0) earned the pitching win, holding UW-Platteville to one earned run while striking out five over three innings. Starter Daulton Montagna gave the Rams six solid innings in his Cornell debut.
 
The Rams were in for more bonus baseball against Luther, after the Norse struck once in the top of the ninth that ultimately prolonged the game at 7-7.
 
Josiah Shaw led off Cornell's bottom half of the 10th with a single and then stole second base. The next batter, Beals delivered a single to plate Shaw with the winning run. It was Beals' third hit of the contest and second RBI.
 
Shaw, Kent, Darren Mancke and Colin Gierula all had two hits apiece. Zipperer and Kale Rose both drove in two runs.
 
Winning pitcher Patrick Montagna (1-0) was dominant in a relief role, fanning six batters over the final 3.1 innings. He surrendered two hits and one run.